Construction stopped on safety concerns
Construction has been ordered to stop on three low-rent and relocation housing projects because of concerns about safety and quality, it has emerged.
But the Beijing municipal commission of housing and rural-urban development (BMCHRD) is refusing to name the housing projects or give further details about the problems.
Yu Yang, BMCHRD deputy director of the quality control office under the commission, said developers were ordered to rectify the problems on the three housing projects.
Officials will re-examine the quality of construction after the problems have been fixed and before permission is given to resume building, Yu said.
The order to stop construction follows the inspection of 410 low-rent and relocation properties in Beijing, which began in September and is expected to end this month.
Yu said the majority of projects complied with quality standards. The inspection focused on the quality of walls, secondary structure, masonry and energy-saving insulation.
Government officials will inspect all low-rent housing projects monthly and projects that fail to meet standards will be suspended and developers fined. In more serious cases, developers will be banned from future construction work, Yu said.
Zuo Deli, manager of Shoucheng International project by Beijing Urban Construction Group, said their goal is high quality.
Zuo said seven cheaper condominium properties are under construction and buyers are free to see the progress of their project at any time.
Officials said there remain problems with the quality of low-rent housing buildings and they would continue checking the standard of construction.
(China Daily 10/20/2009 page26)
